April 28/15 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Port Renfrew Marina will be opening officially on May 1st, this coming Friday. We have been at the marina for the last week to prepare for our opening this season and for any seasonal early birds. If you are seasonal and are preparing to come in soon or have decided to not return please contact us asap to let us know your status for this season. The number is 250 483-1878 for the office. Also for our caretaker, Desi, his number is 250 483-1486. Important Notice:  This year we have a new ruling with the CRD regarding the compostable garbage disposal. Please note that it is now mandatory to separate your bio-degradable vegetable wastes from your non degradable garbage. For campers this year it will be necessary to separate your vegetable wastes and any organics from the other garbage and you will see we have a separate container for it. It is imperative that all campers do their best to comply with this new ruling. Please check in with the office for details regarding the ruling and how to meet with compliance of this new by-law.

For Port Renfrew Marina the crabbing has been good and coming on nicely. Halibut fishing is also coming along well considering it is early in the year. Lets hope the weather and conditions lend themselves for a productive year! This year will follow the ones before with the usual derbies we have had in the past. By now most of you know that the Davey Derby is not happening anymore but Port Renfrew marina will be trying to compensate for that derby so sorely missed. This year we are having a small salmon derby in honor of Blair Houdayer or Hoody as most of us knew him. He passed away last year and in his name we are having a derby for recognition of him and his wonderful nature and good spirit. He was a gentle sweet guy who will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Info available at the marina office.

A reminder for all fishermen. Port Renfrew Marina no longer sells fishing licenses. If you need a license you must pick one up at a store that offers purchasing such as Canadian Tire or in Victoria at Island Outfitters. The easiest and cheapest way to get one is to go online and get it yourself. Just go to Government of Canada, Fishing and Oceans Canada and look for saltwater fishing license, click on get a fishing license. If you have access to a printer its simple and only takes a few minutes.

Port Renfrew Marina is still looking for a marina truck. It doesn't need to be pretty and we are looking for one that is cheap. We are also in need of a freezer as our one last year died. Anyone knowing of either one that would work for us please contact us at the number 250 483-1878. It would be much appreciated!

For all of us at Port Renfrew Marina and for Port Renfrew in general,  we wish all our customers, old and new have a great year fishing and enjoying their summer. Lets hope the fishing is outstanding and the weather is also! As you return you will see the same old faces and we welcome Knut back and our handy guy, Eric who keeps the grounds nice. See you all soon!

Bud & Rex

April 11/15 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Port Renfrew Marina is looking for a work pick up truck. Our old one gave up the fight and had to be scrapped. We are looking for an older truck, it doesn't need to be pretty or expensive, cheap is good!  It is needed mostly for taking garbage to the dump, moving materials around the marina and such. If you know of an older truck that is in reasonable shape please contact us at 250 474-2643 and ask for Bud. The marina will be opening soon, May 1st. If you are a seasonal customer and wanting to get your trailer out please contact Desi and let him know what dates you are looking to arrive. The gate is kept locked and you will need to give him some notice. There will be someone in the office from April 24th and we are hoping to have the phone lines working by then.

We have been informed recently from Tahnee that the Salmonberry Bistro will not be at the marina this year. She is moving to an area near the Coastal Kitchen as they are not open for dinners this year. There is a possibility of someone opening a small food stall at the marina but that is not confirmed yet. If not we are hoping that the office will be able to at least make coffee available. We will know more near opening time.

Any seasonals who are NOT returning please contact us and let us know as soon as possible so we can be aware of any spaces that can be made available for new customers. We always have new people inquiring and it would be helpful to know who is coming back and who may not be.

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report April 4, 2015

The 2015 season for Port Renfrew Marina is almost upon us again! The winter went by quickly, the fishing will be starting up soon and we will all be looking forward to the crabbing to turn on. As most of you know the marina opens on May 1st. Those of you with your units in storage with us may want to check on things but with the mild winter our caretaker, Desi, says things are looking ok. The season this year is from May 1st to Oct. 12th. Anyone wanting to bring their units in will need to call and make arrangements either with Bud 250 474-2643 or with Desi Hatchard 250 483-1486. The gate is kept locked and it is important for all customers to call ahead. We at Port Renfrew Marina look forward to seeing our regular customers again for another season and to meet new our ones who we hope will enjoy their stay with us. Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report Oct.14/14

Well, for Port Renfrew Marina the 2014 fishing season in now over. While we had one of the driest and warmest summers for some time and many calm sea days, Chinook and Sockeye fishing was poorer than predicted. The springs just weren't around in the numbers or sizes that we have come to expect. The Coho fishing proved to be the best in probably 10 years. It is still fantastic but the winter storms have moved in and it can be far to dangerous to get in and out of the river. A heads up for next year, trolling in the river mouth and the river itself can be very successful. No weight with spoons or apex trolled 80 feet back of the boat can be deadly. Just yesterday we fished in as little as 2 feet of water to get our fish. The biggest being 15 pounds.

As of this past weekend Port Renfrew Marina is now closed for the season and will reopen on May 1st 2015. The gate is kept locked and there is no launching available until we reopen. Anyone who may have a boat or unit at the marina and is not planning on doing storage must contact us or our caretaker, Desi, 250 483-1486 to arrange for the gate to be opened. If left, winter storage fees will apply. There is no gas available and will not be any also until we reopen in May. Please remember for next year to get your fishing license before arriving at the marina. As of this past year we no longer are able to sell licenses.

We want to thank our caretaker, Desi Hatchard, Reid Warren, Odd Johansen, Todd Garrett, and our old caretakers, Wayne & Gwen Coleman and Knut, our employee for their help with the marina in many different ways and keeping an eye on things for us while we are closed. We also want to thank all our customers for their continued support at the marina and we always look forward to seeing them again in the new season and meeting any new ones we get. Again we want to thank all the people and businesses that help us out with our derbys. The successes of those derbies are very reliant on their help and donations. It is all very much appreciated.

Bud, Tedi, Rex, Diane and Knut all want to wish you the very best in the coming winter, have a safe year until we see you again in the 2015 season.

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Fishing Report Oct.7/14

At Port Renfrew Marina Coho fishing is the best it has been in ten years! Just like the old days, getting 20, 30, 40 fish on per day is not uncommon. Truly sore arms! Offshore in 250 to 500 feet of water and 50 to 70 feet down is the hot spot. Baitrix, spoons and hoochies are working very well. If you are brave enough put down some strip or anchovies but don't expect to sit down or eat your lunch! The river mouths are giving up fish mostly just after the high tide as it starts to drop. Bait, Baitrix or spoons with no weight, 70 to 80 feet behind the boat in as shallow as 4 feet deep out to 20 feet deep seems to be the ticket. Watch for the jumpers! If you want some of the best fishing you will ever have then come on up in the coming week before we close on October 12th! The water is thick with Coho and then they are gone, you don't want to miss out!

So as most all of you know Port Renfrew Marina held it's annual Coho "Winner Take All" Derby this past weekend. It was a huge success and possibly one of the best derby's we have had. We had 481 entrants fishing for the two days. The weather was fantastic, sunny, warm, calm seas and best of all the fishing was excellent! Everyone was enjoying the weekend even if they didn't bring in the big one, everyone got their limits. Fishing seemed to be a bit hotter on the Saturday and the winning fish was caught on Saturday and held up until the derby was over on Sunday at 1:00 PM. The winners were Gord and Janice Lee weighing in a Coho at 15 pounds and 13 ounces. The grand total for the biggest Coho this year was $9620.00 with a total of $2405.00 to be donated to the local San Juan Hatchery. There was a side bet going on and 63 people chose to enter that and again Gord and Janice Lee won that also! That total amount was $1260.00, giving them a grand total of $10880.00 prize money! You can tell by their happy faces that they were over the top with the winnings and had a great weekend fishing!

Also Port Renfrew Marina held the annual Labor Day Derby on Aug. 30th and 31st, already over a month ago! It also was a success due to all the efforts of the donators and people who pitch in and help. The final totals for that fundraising event and others during the year with a break down of misc. cash $335.00, the Chinook Derby, held in July this year, $710.00 and the 2014 Coho Derby just held $2405.00 and the PRM Labor Day Derby raising $3493.85 for a total of $6973.85 all going to the San Juan Enhancement Society to the local hatchery in Port Renfrew. Also raised was a donation of $5000.00 to the B.C. Wildlife Federation. A big thanks to all that participate and contribute, it wouldn't happen without all of you.

Important News: It is important to know that Port Renfrew Marina will be closing on October 12th this year and if you have a boat or unit on the grounds you must come in and settle your account and make arrangements to with do winter storage or remove your units. By Sunday October 13th the phone in the office will not be working and if you need assistance with anything regarding your unit or boat or have any questions you can call our caretaker at 250 483-1486 or Bud and Tedi at 2590 474-2643. After that weekend the gate will be locked and you will need to call ahead to make sure you can get in. 

Bud & Rex